Jewelry clasp



Jan. 24, 1956 1 E. VALCOURT JEWELRY CLASP Filed March 5, 1953 dik r RII /2 United States Patent O JEWELRY CLASP Louis E. Valcourt, East Providence, R. I., assigner to VKestenman Bros. Mfg. Co., Providence, R. i., a corporation of Rhode island Application `March 5, 1953, Serial No. 340,495

2 Claims. (Ci. 243-235) This invention relates to articles of jewelry and particularly to an improved clasp or coupling device for connecting the ends of bracelet-s, necklaces, locket chains and like ornamental accessories worn for utility or adornment.

The present improved clasp or connector is of a type similar to so-called sister-hooks in embodying cooperating hook-members normally maintained in closed relationship by spring means and pivoted to rotate in opposite directions about a common axis for separating their hookportions to open the clasp.

One object of the invention is to provide an article of jewelry of the type indicated of highly ornamental appearance and capable of use for securely fastening together the ends of bracelets, chains or the like.

Another object is to provide a clasp or connector of the type indicated constructed of sheet-metal parts stamped out and struck up for assembling in cooperative relationship.

Another object is to provide a clasp or connector of the type indicated with its mechanical parts enclosed and concealed from view and its exterior of smooth ornamental contour without projections liable to catch in the garments of the wearer.

Another object is to provide a clasp or connector of the type indicated having hook-portions adapted to overlap throughout substantial portions of their length and held securely in closed relationship to prevent accidental release from the article connected thereto.

Further objects of the improvement are set forth in the following specification which describes a preferred form of construction of the invention as illust-rated by the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is a greatly enlarged plan View of the present improved clasp or connector showing it attached'to the end ot' a bracelet with its hook-members closed together in overlapping relationship;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the clasp;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal part-sectional view of the same showing the mounting for its hook-members;

Fig. 4 is a plan View of the clasp or connector shown with its hook-members in closed relationship and its enclosing shell or cover in section to illustrate the arrangement of its mechanical detent-means;

Fig. 5 is a smilar part-sectional plan view of the clasp shown with its hook-members rotated together or `swiveled about its axis and illustrating the detent-means for controlling such movement of the hook-members;

Fig. 6 is a similar part-sectional plan view of the clasp shown with its hook-members swung into open relationship with the detent-means engaged to prevent extreme relative movement of the members;

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of the clasp showing the means for fastening the cover in place;

Fig. 8 is a vertical 'sectional view on line 8 8 of Fig. 4 showing the interior rotating elements of the clasp and the spring for operating them to close their hook-portions;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the base-plate or bottom cover-:member of the clasp showing the pivot for the rotat- CTI 2,731,695 Patented Jan. 24, ,1956

2 ing elements and the detent-means for controlling the movement of the hook-members; and (Y Y Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the spring for operating vthe hook-members.

The present drawing illustrates the assembled clasp or connector and its parts magnified or enlarged `approximately eight or nine times compared to its actual Isize when manufactured for use with bracelets, chains and other articles of jewelry. vIam aware that devices called sister-hooks are old in .the art as used for connecting relatively large and heavy chains, cables or the like, but the present device is distingui-shed therefrom not `only by its miniature size, but also as regards the construction and arrangement of its parts and their form which render the article more ornamental and pleasing to the eye, besides adapting it for use with expensive articles of jewelry or adornment. The present clasp or connector is usually made from precious metal or sheet-stock plated with gold or silver and a particular object of the invention is to embody its construction in acompact, highly ornamental configuration having a smooth surface contour with its mechanical elements entirely enclosed and concealed from view.

Referring to the drawing, the present improved clasp or connector comprises a pair of cooperating hook-members 2 and 3 constituted by circular disk-like portions 4 land 5, respectively, which are pivoted to rotate about a common axial bearing provided by a hollow pivot-stud 6. Projecting radially from the disk-portions i and 5 of the ymembers 2 and 3 are hooked arms 7 and S, respectively, hav.- ing rounded or convex outer faces 9 and 10 and `laterallypiojecting fingers or prongs 11 and l2. The members 2 and 3 are of complementary shape to adapt them to be assembled in overlying relationship and pivotally connected by the hollow stud 6. The hooked arms 7' and 3 of the members 2 and 3 extend in substantial parallelism when closed together with their prongs 11 and ll2 in con tiguous overlapping relationship as indicated in Figs; l and 4. The disk-portions 4 and 5 of the' two members 2 and 3 are provided at their center with axial apertures 1S and 16 through which .the hollow stud 6 is inserted `to provide a pivot-bearing permitting relative rotation of the members 2 and 3 in opposite directions to open their hookportions in spaced relationship `as shown in Fig. ,6. s

The disk-portions 4 3 and 5 of the members 2 and 3 are cupped to form their marginal edges with projecting circular flanges i7 and 18, respectively, see Figs. 3 and 8, which overlie `in interengaging relationship when the members are assembled on the hollow pivot-stud v6. Preferably, the circular ange 17 of the disk-portion 4 is shouldered at 19 to form a bearing seat for the liangc' 18 of the disk-portion 5. The marginal flanges 17 and 1S thus serve as bearings for the members 2 and 3 and form recesses between the overlying disk-portions 4l and 5 of the members 2 and 3 when .the latter are assembled in cooperating relationship on the pivot-stud 6. A helical wire spring 2i) is pocketed in the space between the diskportions 4 and 5 surrounding the stud 6 with its ends connected to swing the hook-members 7 and 3 of the members 2 and 3 toward each other. The llan'ges 17 and 18 on the members 2 and Snare cut away or interrupted throughout a portion of the circumference of the disk-portions 4 and 5 with the ange 17 slotted to pro'- vide a notch 21 for receiving the bent end 22 of the spring 20, see Fig. 4, while the opposite flange 18 on the member 3 is formed with a notch 23 for receiving the other bent end 24 of the spring 20. The spring 20 is inserted in place encircling the pivot-stud 6 with a clearance therearound, but slightly contracted to place it under tension bearing against the anges 17' and i8.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 8, the hook-members 2 and 3 are assembled on the pivot-'stud 6 surmounting a part- 'a o circular base-plate 25, see Fig. 9, which forms the lower part of the enclosing shell for the mechanical elements of the clasp. The base-plate 25 may be constructed of base-metal, steel or hard brass and connected to the upper ornamental shell or cover 31 which is constructed from sheet-stock of precious metal or plated therewith. The cap-like shell 3l is generally of wedge-shape with an ornamental crowned top 32 and depending side walls 33 which are inclined inwardly toward the rear to adapt them to overlie straight edges 34 on the base-plate 2.5 in engagement with projecting lugs 35 on the opposite sides thereof. The side walls 33 of the cover 3i are formed with depending rounded ears 4t) which are bent or folded over on the under side of the base-plate 25 to secure the cap-like shell 3l in permanent connection therewith.

Projecting upwardly from the sides of the base-plate 25 are a pair of lugs 42 and 43 which serve as abutrnents for controlling the pivotal movement of the hook-members 2 and 3 when the latter swivel together as illustrated in Fig. 5, or are swung apart to open the clasp as shown in Fig. 6. For this purpose the disk-portions 4 and 5 or" the two hook-members 2 and 3 are formed with pointed projections or stop-lugs 45 and 46, respectively. When the two hook-members 2 and 3 are swiveled together about the pivot-pin 6 the two stop-lugs 45 and 46 are in alinement and thus will be engaged with one or the other of the lugs or abutments i2 and 43 in whichever direction the hook-members are swung together. When the hookmembers 2 and 3 are swung apart to open the clasp their stop-lugs 45 and 46 will engage respectively with the opposite lugs or abutments 42 and 43 on the base-plate 2S as shown in 1Eig. 6. lt is to be particularly noted by reference to Figs. 5 and 6 that in whichever manner the hook-members 2 and 3 are swung or plvoted about the stud 6 their rotary motion will be arrested before their hooked arms 7 and 8 strike against the edges of the side walls 33 of the clasp or cover member 31.

It will thus be seen that the present form of construction of the detent-means for controlling both the swiveling motion of the hook-members and their separation provides an important improvement in the art in that the hook-members cannot in any instance swing around to such position that their projecting arms will strike against the edges of the side walls of the cover member or cap. Stated another way, the swinging hook-members are controlled in their several movements, whether moving together or apart, to prevent the portions which project through the opening in the end of the cap or cover member 3l from striking against the sides 33 of the cover to abi-ade or mar the edges thereof or bend the side walls apart and render the clasp unsightly in appearance. The present improved clasp is thus protected from damage or injury during its normal operation and also should it be subjected to hard usage or abuse when applied to a bracelet or other types of jewelry.

The pivot-stud 6 is inserted through a circular aperture in the base-plate 2S to adapt it to project up through the circular openings l5 and i6 in the disk-portions 4 and 5 of the hook-members 2 and 3 with both ends of the stud swaged or riveted over as indicated in Figs. 3 and 8 so as to permanently fasten the parts together in connected relationship. In riveting over the ends of the pivot-stud 6 sufficient freedom of play is left so that the two members 2 and 3 may rotate about the pivot 6 without any considerable friction. The helical spring 26 is coiled around the pivot-stud 6 and its bent ends 22 and 24 hooked respectively into the notches 2. and 23 in the ends of the lianges 17 and lil on the disk-portions 4 and 5 of the members 2 and 3 as shown most clearly in Figs. 3 and 4; the tendency of the spring to expand thus acting to normally maintain the hook-members in closed relationship while permitting them to be swung together to swivel about the pin 6 or to be spread apart in open position by contracting the spring.

In use the present improved clasp may be permanently attached to the ends of a watchbracelet, or to a chain or other article of jewelry by connecting the article to a loop 26 on the base-plate 25, this connection being made through the means of one of the links or an extra ring on the end of the bracelet or chain. When it is desired to connect one end of a chain or bracelet to its opposite end or to another article of jewelry the two hoolornembers 2 and 3 may be swung open into the position shown in Fig. 6 by rotating them about the pivot-stud 6 as the spring 20 is contracted therearound. After the loop on the watch or the connecting member on the free end of the chain has been piaced between the ends of the two prongs il and 12, the hook-members 2 and 3 are released to allow the spring 2@ to rotate them about the pivot-stud 6 and carry the prongs into closed, overlapping relationship as shown in Figs. l and 4. The hook-members will thus be caused to make a secure connection with the svatch or the end of a chain or bracelet with which "the clasp is used without danger of being accidentally released since any strain or pull on the chain or brace- 1let will be directed against the substantially liat sides of the overlapping prongs 1l and i2. Moreover, tite inner `:faces of the hook-portions 7 and 8 being straight and arranged in substantially parallel relationship there will be .ittle tendency to force them apart under any strain or stress on the chain or bracelet.

it will be observed from the foregoing description that dire present invention provides an improved iewelry clasp or connector of compact construction having a smooth surface contour without projecting parts liable to catch 'in the garments, while presenting a highly ornamental appearance. T he mechanical elements of the clasp are enclosed and concealed from view so as not to detract from the artistic etlect of the whole, while being so arranged as to be confined in a relatively small space. Consequently, thecornplete clasp may be made of exceedingly small size to adapt it for use with small bracelets and chains without appearing bulky or obtrusive to detract from the artistic eliect of the article. The parts of the improved clasp or connector may be constructed of relatively thin sheet-metal, stamped out and struck up in suer form as to provide the desired strength and solid appearance without excessive bulk, while also rendering the `article inexpensive to manufacture.

While the improved clasp or connector is shown herein as embodied in a preferred form of construction, it is to be understood that modifications may be made in the shape and arrangement of its parts Without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

l. In a clasp ot the type indicated, an ornamental housing, a pivot-stud mounted fast in said housing, a pair of hooked arms having bearing portions pivoted on said stud to adapt said arms to swing about a common axis, a base-plate for supporting said pivot-stud, a strip of metal projecting upwardly at each side of said base-plate in the form ot' an abutment, a stop-lug projecting radially from the bearing portion of each of the arms for engagement with one or the other of said abutments on the base-plate to limit the swinging motion of each arm, and an ornamental cover member attached to the base-plate in overlying relation to the bearing portions of the arms and provided with depending sides forming an opening at the front of the clasp, said stop-lugs adapted to engage with the abutments on the base-plate to limit the swinging movement of the arms in either direction and prevent them from striking against the sides of the housing.

2. In a clasp of the type indicated, a housing comprising an upper shell and a bottom base-plate, said housing having a front opening between its sides, a pivot stud lixedly mounted on said base-plate, a pair of hooked arms having disk-like bearing portions pivotally mounted on said stud to adapt said hooked arms to project through the opening at the front of the housing, a helical spring encircling the stud with its ends engaging the bearing portions of the arms to normally maintain the hook-portions of the arms in closed relationship while permitting the arms to be swung apart to open the clasp, posts formed integral with said base-plate and bent upwardly therefrom at the sides thereof, and a stop-lug projecting radially from the bearing portion of each hooked arm to adapt it to engage with one or the other of said posts when the arms are pivoted about the stud either singly or together to limit the extent of such pivotal movement so that the arms cannot strike against the edges of the sides at the front opening in the housing.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Capron Mar. 23, 1886 Brassington Apr. 4, 1899 Rabone Dec. 29, 1903 Forstner Aug. 17, 1909 Wood Dec. 19, 1916 Kraemer Mar. 15, 1927 Duerr Jan. 6, 1953 Kuehn May 5, 1953 

